Impact of Beer on Health
The main active ingredient of beer is alcohol, thus the effects of alcohol on health also applies to beer.
The moderate consumption of alcohol, including beer, is associated with a decreased risk of cardiac disease, stroke and cognitive decline. However, the side effects of alcohol abuse in the long term include the risk of developing alcoholism, alcoholic liver disease, and some forms of cancer.
Brewer’s yeast is known to be rich in nutrients like magnesium, selenium, potassium, phosphorus, biotin, and B vitamins. Beer is therefore sometimes referred to as “liquid bread” but some sources maintain that filtered beer loses much of its nutrition.
A 2005 Japanese study found that low alcohol beer may possess strong anti-cancer properties. Another study also found that nonalcoholic beer mirrors the cardiovascular benefits associated with moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages. However, much research suggests that the primary health benefit from alcoholic beverages comes from the alcohol they contain.
Many blames beer consumption for the cause of a beer belly. But it is the overeating and the lack of exercise and low muscle tone that cause the beer belly.
Several diet books quote beer as having the same glycemic index as maltose – a very high (and therefore undesirable) 110; however, as maltose undergoes metabolism by yeast during fermentation, beer also actually consists mostly of water, hop oils and only trace amounts of sugars, apart from maltose.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Leave a Comment